“Oh, tell us, dear child, how did it happen--and what did you do--and
where did you meet?” said Lady Merrenden.
Robert held my hand.
Then I tried to tell them as well as I could, and they listened
breathlessly. “I was very rude, I fear,” I ended with, “but I was so
angry.”
“It is glorious,” said Robert. “But the best part is that you intended
to give me yourself with no prospect of riches. Oh, darling, that is
the best gift of all.”
“Was it disgustingly selfish of me?” I said. “But when I saw your
poor brother so unhappy looking, and soured, and unkind, with all his
grandeur, I felt that to us, who know what love means, to be together
was the thing that matters most in all the world.”
Lady Merrenden then said she knew some people staying here who had an
_appartement_ on the first floor, and she would go down and see if they
were visible. She would wait for Robert in the hall, she said, and she
kissed us good-night, and gave us her blessing.
What a dear she is! What a nice pet to leave us alone!
Robert and I passed another hour of bliss, and I think we must have got
to the sixth heaven by now. Robert says the seventh is for the end,
when we are married--well, that will be soon. Oh! I am too happy to
write coherently.
I did not wake till late this morning, and Véronique came and said my
sitting-room was again full of flowers. The darling Robert is!
I wrote to Christopher and Lady Ver, in bed as I sipped my chocolate. I
just told Lady Ver the truth, that Robert and I had met by chance, and
discovered we loved one another, so I knew she would understand--and I
promised I would not break his heart. Then I thanked her for all her
kindness to me, but I felt sad when I read it over--poor, dear Lady
Ver--how I hope it won’t really hurt her, and that she will forgive me.
To Christopher I said I had found my “variation” worth while, and I
hoped he would come to my wedding some day soon.
Then I sent Véronique to post them both.
To-day I am moving to Carlton House Terrace. What a delight that will
be--and in a fortnight, or at best three weeks, Robert says we shall
quietly go and get married, and Colonel Tom Carden can give me away
after all.
Oh the joy of the dear, beautiful world, and this sweet, dirty,
enshrouding fog-bound London! I love it all--even the smuts!
CARLTON HOUSE TERRACE,
_Thursday night_.
ROBERT came to see me at twelve, and he brought me the loveliest,
splendid diamond and emerald ring, and I danced about like a child with
delight over it. He has the most exquisite sentiment, Robert, every
little trifle has some delicate meaning, and he makes me _feel_ and
_feel_.
Each hour we spend together we seem to discover some new bit of us
which is just what the other wants. And he is so deliciously jealous
and masterful and--oh! I love him--so there it is!
I am learning a number of things, and I am sure there are lots to learn
still.
At half past one Lady Merrenden came, and fetched us in the _barouche_,
and off we went to Vavasour House, with what different feelings to last
evening.
The pompous servants received us in state, and we all three walked on
to the Duke’s room.
There he was, still huddled in his chair, but he got up--he is better
to-day.
Lady Merrenden went over and kissed him.
“Dear Torquilstone,” she said.
“Morning, Robert,” he mumbled, after he had greeted his aunt.
“Introduce me to your _fiancée_.”
And Robert did with great ceremony.
“Now, I won’t call you names any more,” I said, and I laughed in his
face. He bent down, and kissed my forehead.
“You are a beautiful tiger cat,” he said, “but even a year of you would
be well worth while.”
Upon which Robert glared, and I laughed again, and we all went in to
lunch.
He is not so bad, the Duke, after all!
CARLTON HOUSE TERRACE,
_Dec. 21st._
OH! it is three weeks since I wrote, but I have been too busy, and
too happy, for journals. I have been here ever since, getting my
trousseau, and Véronique is becoming used to the fact that I can have
no coronet on my _lingerie_!
It is the loveliest thing in the world being engaged to Robert!
He has ways!--Well, even if I really were as bad as I suppose I look,
I could never want any one else. He worships me, and lets me order
him about, and then he orders me about, and that makes me have the
loveliest thrills! And if any one even looks at me in the street, which
of course they always do--he flashes blue fire at them, and I feel--oh!
I feel, all the time!
Lady Merrenden continues her sweet kindness to us, and her tact is
beyond words, and now I often do what I used to wish to--that is, touch
Robert’s eyelashes with the tips of my fingers!
It is perfectly lovely.
Oh, what in the world is the good of anything else in life, but being
frantically in love like we are.
It all seems, to look back upon, as if it were like having porridge
for breakfast, and nothing else every day--before I met Robert!
Perhaps it is because he is going to be very grand in the future, but
every one has discovered I am a beauty, and intelligent. It is much
nicer to be thought that than just to be a red-haired adventuress.
Lady Katherine, even, has sent me a cairngorm brooch and a cordial
letter (should now adorn her circle!)
But oh! what do they all matter--what does anything matter but Robert!
All day long I know I am learning the meaning of “to dance and to sing
and to laugh and _to live_.”
The Duke and I are great friends, he has ferreted out about mamma’s
mother, and it appears she was a Venetian music mistress of the name
of Tonquini, or something like that, who taught Lord de Brandreth’s
sisters--so perhaps Lady Ver was right after all, and far, far back in
some other life, I was the friend of a Doge.
Poor dear Lady Ver! she has taken it very well after the first spiteful
letter, and now I don’t think there is even a tear at the corner of
her eye!
Lady Merrenden says it is just the time of the year when she usually
gets a new one, so perhaps she has now, and so that is all right.
The diamond serpent she has given me has emerald eyes--and such a
pointed tongue.
“It is like you, Snake-girl,” she said, “so wear it at your wedding.”
The three angels are to be my only bridesmaids.
Robert loads me with gifts, and the Duke is going to let me wear all
the Torquilstone jewels when I am married, besides the emeralds he has
given me himself. I really love him.
Christopher sent me this characteristic note with the earrings which
are his gift, great big emeralds set with diamonds:
“So sorry I shall not see you on the happy day, but Paris, I am
fortunate enough to discover, still has joys for me.
“C. C.
“Wear them, they will match your eyes!”
And to-morrow is my wedding-day, and I am going away on a honeymoon
with Robert--away into the seventh heaven. And oh! and oh! I am certain
_sure_ neither of us will yawn!